The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-06-01


who never had anything like it,"
Yes" said he, in tone quite sat
urated with irony, 81 don't doubt its
usefulness; but don't you think YOU
ought to add few yards of illusion to
make some warm bodies for those who
have no fires, and few yards of ribbon
TO decorate the little freezing arms %
Now you are angry with me, Mr..
Shaw" hesitatingly. "Don't think
me utterly heartless; but / can't 90 to
= street. 1t would really give me a
little blue chill"
could never consent to such a
cruel thing as that" he said, with an
unpleasant smile. CT really feel that
/ owe you an apology for intrudinc
such disagreeable subject, particu-
larly after your nerves were shattered
with your novel. Good morning"
And he bowed himself out very alb
ruptly, with strange little pain in his
heart.
He did not again speak on the sub
ject to her, but found other ladies who
interested themselves most warmly in
the work.
Everywhere that he went in his
charity rounds he could see and feel
the influence of Miss Sanks' good acts.
| She seemed to be an angel of mercy,
who never tired and who devoted her
entire time to charity. All that she
did was marked by a practical good
sense and depth of thought and feel
ing that he could not fail to admire.
Still he never CHANGED to meet her.
One day when entering the post-office
he saw in advance of him the graceful
figure of Mabel Lee. She was unaware
of his presence, and, standing idly be-
hind her, he felt as if he had received
an electric shock as she asked:
I" Is there anything for Miss Mehit-
able Sanks?" and then received and
pocketed several postal cards.
If he was astonished at the question,
he was still more so at the effect which
his discovery produced on her.
Neck, face and brow, even to the
roots of her golden curls, were dyed in
a painful crimson, her eyes dilated with
an expression of great CONSERVATION,
but with little naughty gesture of
recognition she hurried past him.
Acting upon an impulse, with few
hasty steps he soon overlook her. He
was lost in bewildering surprise. She
was the last person with whom he
would have connected Miss Sanks in
any way, and her great agitation, as he
walked beside her, increased his sur
prise.
A sudden, bright suspicion caused
his heart to beat almost to suffocation.
"Tell me, Miss Mabel" he said,
"what have you to do with Miss Sanks'
letters?"
81 really can't understand, Mr..
Shaw, what right you have to ask such
question. In all things spiritual l
acknowledge your right, but in this in
stance you forget yourself"
"Tell me-" he said, s'with eager,
regardless haste, g are you Miss Sanks?'
A sudden burst of tears was her only
answer, as she hastily pulled down her
vail and walked silently beside him.
A calm of perfect joy descended
upon him as he fully realized the truth.
He walked by her side until he reached
her home, and then, without waiting
for an invitation, entered it with her.
AS they reached the parlor, she tossed
aside her hat and stood before him more
like discovered culprit than the little
saint she had proved to be.
There was defiant sparkle in her eyes
as she turned her flushed face to him.
He took both of her hands in his.
$50, Mabel" he murmured, tenderly,
"your heart is as beautiful as your
, face, though you have yelled your good
ness under an exterior of frivolity.
This is not the general rule of hu-
; manity."
"But, Mr. Shaw, if it is a fault it
lies entirely at your door"
" Have l anything to do with it?"
he asked, in surprise. have been
, thinking for long while that you were
entirely beyond my control"
: " Nevertheless, l have only been
, obeying your instructions. Don't you
remember you sometimes preach against
ostentatious charity? Let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand
doeth.' l thought there was word of
, truth and force in it, and l have prac-
t ticed what you preached. And now,
Mr.. Shaw" she said, with a demure
glance at him, " if you are done with
r my hands l will not trouble you to hold
{ them any longer"
A "No," he said, gravely, " 1 do not
. wish to return them, Mabel! Ma
belr' he said, quickly and tenderly,
b. "give me the privilege of owning them
g always. Won't you, darling?"
She took them quickly away.
, " No, no." with low laugh; cit is
: Miss Sanks with whom you have fallen
I I in love, for poor Mabel Lee only had
| your toleration."
,, "Ah," he said, "that's when l
thought you were butterfly. Now
that l know you to be saint 1 beg
you to share your grace with me and
! help me in all good things. l am will
ing to take you or Miss Sanks, or, in
l defiance of the law of the land, will
take you both"
She hesitated; then, with a lovely
blush and smile, she laid both her
hands in his.
4 "One for Miss Sandstone for my
L self"
; He could not help feeling that one
. sermon, at least, had been cast upon
l the waters which had returned to him
after MANY DAVIS - Ercbnn0e